Golden oldies back in tandem

When Dion Dublin decided to team up with his old striking partner Steve Claridge at Millwall he knew what he was letting himself in for.

The former England frontman worked with him at Cambridge more than 10 years ago and agreed to do so again last week with a loan move from Aston Villa until the end of the season.

Dublin is nearing his 33rd birthday and with Claridge almost 36 years old they must be one of the oldest strikeforces around. They first played together aged 20 and 23, but it seems little has changed.

"It is good to play alongside Steve again, but he still doesn't stop moaning," joked Dublin, who scored on his Millwall debut in the 3-0 win against Stockport last Saturday.

"I knew he was here and what his game is like. I have spoken to him about the club before but it was enough for me that they are in the play-off places and playing for something. I seem to have fitted in quite well so far. Nobody has chucked buckets of cold water at us here yet, but there is plenty of time for that."

That sort of thing that would have happened to Claridge and Dublin in the two years they spent at the Abbey Stadium with John Beck in charge.

He was an unconventional manager who put together a successful, long-ball team with bizarre tactics such as cold showers before games; grass grown six inches in pitch corners to hold the ball up; excess sugar in visiting teams' tea to slow them down and hypnotism.

Claridge once punched his 'crazy' boss and was proud never to have won a £15 bonus for kicking the ball the furthest while Dublin eventually escaped to Old Trafford for a club record fee of £1million in 1992.

But the new man at Millwall says the high-energy team have likenesses to his old up-and-at-em side even if their playing style is different. Dublin said: "We found it hard at Cambridge, the way we played, and it is a similar situation here.

"The boys are probably getting tired now. I assume the manager has brought me in just to gee them up that little bit more and get them over the hardest bit, the final hurdle which could give them their rewards."

Dublin's new team are fifth in Division One and are set fair for the play-offs. But the five teams below them are no more than two points behind with variously three or four games to go.

It makes for an exciting end to the season, continuing tonight when Millwall play Wolves at The Den. If Dave Jones' team do not win, Manchester City will be promoted.

Add the fact that the Molineux club was McGhee's last before he joined the Lions and it is a big match for everyone involved, including Dublin. The striker added: "It is a massive game for both teams and these are amazing times.

"There is a lot of talent here and players who will go on to better things. I hope one of my qualities is that I can share my experience. The nice thing is you get a response when you shout at players in the right way here." That was not happening for Dublin at Villa where he has been told he is surplus to requirements. That is the main reason he was happy to join Millwall.

If McGhee's team win promotion it could become a permanent move but the former Manchester United player is not ready to give up playing in the Premiership long-term.

He is filling-in at Millwall while Richard Sadlier tries to play through a hip injury and Neil Harris has a hamstring strain.

Elsewhere in the side tonight Darren Ward may fill in for defender Sean Dyche, who has a rib problem. Dublin added: "It is about tryingto help the club while helping myself by playing. Age is a concern for managers but I am as fit as I have ever been.

"Claridge is proof that age should not be a barrier and he is as enthusiastic as ever."

Together the pair are experienced, talented and keen. Rest assured McGhee will not be checking the dates on their birth certificates.